The Lady Enchantress Morgiana brought only a few messages.
Firstly, by divine decree of the Lady, Ryan Macado was officially promoted to Grand Master of the Grail Knight Order.
Then, Morgiana asked coldly, "Distinguished Dukes, the council has been in session for several days now. Have you reached a decision?"
"We need further discussion, Lady Morgiana," King Richard nodded gravely. "This concerns the future of rewards and punishments."
"Eight days aren't enough for you to reach a conclusion?" Morgiana, undeterred by the King's response, lightly said, "Ryan is the Lady's chosen champion. She has other tasks for him. How long do you plan to detain him here?"
The Dukes fell silent, realizing they had indeed spent too much time on the issue of rewards and punishments.
"Please conclude the negotiations quickly," Morgiana said before leaving with the chalice in her hand.
A day later, the Dukes finally reached a reluctant consensus.
The Court of Britannia officially announced the details of the war, heavily "edited" as Ryan had anticipated. Anshi-Desmond was hailed as a hero of the Knightly War, with everything portrayed as part of a well-orchestrated plan. The young knight supposedly ordered Ryan not to assist him, leading his army to a mutual destruction with the beastmen, thus buying time for Ryan's successful surprise attack on the Warpstone.
For this, Anshi-Desmond was posthumously titled "Grand Duke of Glaskov," awarded a first-class Grand Cross, and given a state funeral.
Ryan's rewards were also announced.
As the Lady's chosen champion, Ryan's rewards were threefold.
First, his official promotion from an ordinary Grail Knight to Grand Master of the Grail Knight Order.
Second, the awarding of a second-class Fleur-de-lis medal.
Finally, a tangible reward of 1,500 gold crowns and fifty sets of brand-new sergeant armor.
Ryan was quite satisfied with the outcome. 1,500 gold crowns equaled two years' income from his lands. The fifty sets of sergeant armor were valuable, but not his primary concern after the rich loot from the Warpstone.
What mattered most were the second-class Fleur-de-lis medal and the status of Grand Master of the Grail Knight Order.
Britannia greatly valued honor. A second-class Fleur-de-lis medal signified Ryan was halfway to a promotion. Another great deed might compel everyone to consider elevating his rank.
The status of Grand Master allowed Ryan to gather itinerant knights from across the kingdom for war, unbound by his lands. Knights eager for glory could rally under the call of the Grand Master to fight for the Lady.
On the last day of September, a grand investiture ceremony was held at the palace in Couronne, attended by numerous knights and nobles to witness Ryan Macado's decoration and promotion.
The night before, Ryan bathed in clean hot water as ordered, then dressed in standard Britannian noble attire with the help of beautiful Lake Prophetesses. A white cloak bearing a golden Grail was draped over his shoulders.
The next morning, after a lavish Eucharist at the Cathedral of the Grail, Ryan and the Antre siblings rode their pureblood Elven warhorses out of the cathedral towards the palace in Couronne, amid wide streets and crowds.
Anshi-Desmond's state funeral had ended three days prior. The young marquis's remains were missing, his coffin containing only old clothes.
However, Ryan did not laugh. Instead, he gained a deeper understanding of the world's cruelty, as most fallen knights and soldiers met similar fates.
Riding to the palace, passing through the massive blue gates, the nobility awaited inside. The investiture ceremony was ready, with the King, Dukes, and many knights in attendance.
Fully armed, Ryan dismounted and walked confidently through the crowd.
At the palace entrance, King Richard and the Dukes awaited.
"Look, that's him, the Lady's chosen champion, Ryan Macado!"
"Yes, they say he performed brilliantly in the Knightly War, destroying the Warpstone!"
"He defeated a four-armed Minotaur in single combat!"
"Macado? I've never heard that name before. Wait, isn't he the human hero Ryan from the minstrel's tale? Wasn't he a White Wolf Knight in the story?"
"That's what you don't know. Ryan Macado was indeed a White Wolf Knight, but how could he fully demonstrate his talents there? The Lady recognized his potential and tested him."
"So that's why he defeated the barbarian chieftain in the Champion's Duel?" Many people pondered: "Praise the Lady!"
"Praise the Lady!"
As the military music sounded and amidst the murmurs, Ryan approached King Richard and knelt silently.
King Richard, slightly changing his opinion of the young Grail Knight due to his willingness to compromise, then remembered the price he had to pay, and his newfound appreciation faded. Clearing his throat, he began his admonishment.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to hold this solemn investiture ceremony today, to award Baron Ryan Macado with the second-class Fleur-de-lis medal for his significant contribution to this war."
"Baron Ryan Macado demonstrated bravery, wisdom, and steadfast faith in the Lady in the Knightly War, worthy of emulation by all knights of Britannia..."
The King's speech was slow and wordy, forcing Ryan to kneel throughout. However, the Grail Knight remained patient and silent.
Meanwhile, Ryan received a message and began tapping into his psychic energy.
Lady Enchantress Morgiana, attending as a spectator, suddenly heard a voice from the void: "Morgiana, my spokesperson?"
"Lady?" Morgiana immediately realized it was the Lady of the Lake communicating: "My Lady?"
Morgiana was surprised. Why would the Lady speak to her now?
Before she could recover from the shock, the Lady took control of her body. A more powerful, sacred, and solemn aura enveloped Morgiana: "Ryan Macado, step forward!"
The palace stirred.
The Lady Enchantress, ignoring the King, issued a direct command.
King Richard continued his lengthy speech: "In this war..."
His face turned pale, realizing something. The old king trembled: "Lady Morgiana? This is improper..."
The palace fell silent, everyone watching the unfolding scene.
Ryan stood and then knelt before Morgiana, or rather, the Lady of the Lake: "Yes, my Lady!"
"The Lady has descended?!" Another wave of astonishment swept the palace, with most knights immediately kneeling, while a few hesitated.
"Is that truly the Lady?"
"That's the Lady, no doubt about it!" Bertrand knelt first, the Red Dragon Duke visibly moved: "After thirty-two years, I finally witness the Lady's descent again!"
"Kneel, my daughter, my son, that's the Lady!" Francois also knelt promptly.
As the Grail Knights acknowledged her, the remaining knights cast aside their doubts. All knelt before their revered goddess, expressing their reverence.
King Richard's face alternated between pale and flushed. He felt slapped.
His every small gesture, his selfishness, laid bare before the Lady of the Lake.
The Lady expressed her dissatisfaction in this manner! He had to kneel. Powerless against the Lady Enchantress, what more against the Lady herself?
Richard knelt, gritting his teeth: "I... my Lady?"
The Lady ignored the King, continuing her declaration.
"I hereby bestow upon you the title 'The Devout.' Henceforth, no more 'The Hammer' Ryan Macado, only 'The Devout' Ryan Macado!"
Finally, the protagonist gets a new moniker!
And a note: the Knight Kingdom's population is about six million, but in official campaigns, knights die easily, often losing thousands in a single battle. Where do they find so many knights? This makes it difficult for me!
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